The Human Cost Incurred by Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência (SAMU-192) Professionals During COVID-19

Authors

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mobile Emergency Medical Service (SAMU) played a crucial role in the care and transportation of patients. However, the working conditions and human cost faced by SAMU workers in this context are underexplored. This study assessed the work context and the human cost from the perspective of SAMU professionals during the pandemic, with a sample of 179 workers across 16 Brazilian states. The results revealed that approximately 80% of the workers faced critical to severe working conditions, along with issues related to work organization and socio-professional relationships. The human cost, particularly the cognitive cost, was also high, affecting around 78.2% of SAMU workers. Notably, the study highlights the significant influence of work organization on the human cost, specifically the cognitive cost.

Keywords: SAMU, worker health, working conditions, COVID-19, activity ergonomics.

Author Biography

Mateus Estevam Medeiros-Costa, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Brazil

Doutorando em Psicologia (UFRN-2017), da linha de orientação em Psicologia Social do Trabalho. Graduação interrompida em Psicologia pela Universidade de Fortaleza - UNIFOR. É formado em Gestão Empreendedora de Negócios pela Universidade Potiguar - UnP (2007), onde foi bolsista do PROUNI. Fez uma MBA em Gestão Estratégica de Pessoas pela Faculdade de Natal - FAL (2008) e Mestrado em Administração (UnP-2013). Hoje participa do Laboratório de Estudos sobre o Trabalho, núcleo vinculado ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia (PPGP) da UNIFOR. Como também, do Núcleo de Formação e Pesquisa em Trabalho, Desenvolvimento e Saúde (nTDS) do Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas Sobre o Trabalho (GEPET-UFRN). Seu maior interesse está voltado a temáticas ligadas ao nexo entre Saúde Psíquica e Trabalho, Condições de Trabalho, Estresse Ocupacional, Síndrome do Esgotamento Profissional, Assédio Moral, Sentidos e Significados atribuídos ao Trabalho, Comprometimento no Trabalho e Contrato Psicológico de Trabalho. Quanto as correntes teóricas, seus trabalhos se voltam à Ergonomia da Atividade e Psicologia Social do Trabalho.

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Published

2023-07-01

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 3 (2023): rPOT N3/2023 - Ahead of print

Section

Articles

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